Insta360 EVO: New 180 3D Camera. Specs and Videos Here!

Insta360 EVO is a dual 180 and 360 camera with a foldable body. It can shoot 5.7K resolution video in both 360 and 180 mode. The 180 video is also 3D which provides depth when viewing on a VR headset. Insta360 has also developed a phone accessory that allows you to view back 3D photos and videos without requiring those annoying 3D glasses. You can also connect your Oculus Go straight to the camera and instantly watch back your video with new Insta360 VR App for Oculus Go and Gear VR.

The camera switches between its 180 and 360 modes with the touch of a button which then releases a locking mechanism, you can then fold the camera and lock it back into place. This takes just a few seconds. The Evo appears to have similar video and photo capabilities as the Insta360 One X, which can also shoot 5.7K video and 18MP photos in RAW and LOG mode. You can get some very nice footage out of that camera which bodes well for the EVO, however shooting indoors is rarely as successful.

180 3D Video

The unique selling point of the EVO is without doubt its ability to shoot VR180 3D video. This is a fairly new format that allows you to experience a much more immersive video, albeit with half the field of view of a 360 video. 1 180 video is more immersive thanks to the depth it provides,making it seems like objects are really there. If you have ever been to an IMAX the effect is similar.

Another unique feature of Insta360 cameras is their software stabilization technology, which they call “Flowstate”. This gyroscope powered stabilization is truly excellent at keeping video shake free and steady, even with aggressive movement. Thankfully the Evo has this software built in, so shooting moving video should be just as easy.

The ability to choose between shooting 360 and 180 3D video is a powerful feature that not many cameras have. In some situations a 3D video is going to be a much better choice, particularly if the focus of the video is directly in front of the camera.

This is a good example of when to use 180 video. The person directly in front of the camera and the bubbles surrounding the lenses will all have depth when viewed in a headset.

This is a video shot with the EVO attached to a drone amongst a fireworks display. This is shot in the 360 mode as the 3D effect would not be useful here, plus the action is occurring all around the camera with makes shooting in 360 a logical choice.

Insta360 VR App

Insta360 have developed a new app for Oculus Go, Gear VR and HTC Vive Focus called Insta360 VR. This app allows you to wirelessly connect your headset to the Evo camera and streamlined wireless playback and transfer. You won’t need to manually transfer your files to your headset to see them.

Holoframe

Another new release from Insta360 in tandem with the EVO is the Holoframe accessory. This phone display cover allows you to view 3D photos and videos with the naked eye, and without the need for 3D glasses or a headset. It works in part with the EVO app which tracks your eye movement and the specially designed display cover which allows 3D content to appear like its popping out of the screen.

Insta360 has already built an impressive ecosystem for the EVO that allows you to view your immersive video in the best ways possible.

Alternatives

The Insta360 EVO comes less then 6 months after the release of the Insta360 One X. Is the EVO and update to the One X? Isn’t it a bit soon you might be asking? The EVO isn’t an update to the One X but a similar technology repackaged for a different purpose. The One X is designed primarily as an action camera, to be used on the go with various accessories with lots of movement. The One X target market is anyone who’s even used a GoPro.

The EVO on the other hand is primarily designed to be used in a VR ecosystem. You’ll more likely be keeping your EVO still while shooting and you are more likely to want to view it back on a VR headset rather than on YouTube. There is of course some overlap between the two but they are quite distinct.

Insta360 Evo or Vuze XR?

The most obvious competitor to the EVO is the Vuze XR, another dual 360 & 180 3D camera that can shoot 5.7K. I’ll be creating a separate post comparing these two in detail, but I will say they are quite similar in functionality but very different in the design and software departments.

First Impressions

I was surprised when Insta360 told me they were going to release a VR focused camera, because up until now they were focused more on the action potential of 360 cameras. While the video that I’ve seen looks very good (the 3D effect works excellently in the right situations) the design and build of the camera is fairly basic. There’s no screen and the mechanism for changing between 360 and 180 isn’t the best. Still, that’s only a small part of what this camera is about and the ecosystem that Insta360 has built around the camera means you’ll actually have a reason to use both 180 and 360 modes.

I’ll be using this camera over the next few weeks and I’ll come back with a full review after I’ve thoroughly tested all its features. If you can’t wait till then and are already convinced the EVO is for you then you can order one from the Insta360 website. If you use that link you’ll also get a free invisible selfie stick!